Match-box.



. E. H. MUELLER MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1917.

Patented J 11110 4, 1918.

EDWARD HARRY MUELLER, 0F HARTFORD, WISCONSHQ.

mA'rc'H-nox.

Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented June 4, 1918.

Application filed April 20, 1917. Serial No. 163,346.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD HARRY MUEL- LER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hartford, in the county of Washington and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in match boxes, and refers particularly to what are termed safety match boxes adapted for use with a holder as generally employed in combination with an ash tray.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a match box, the container of which is so perforated and cut away as to permit its ready adaptation for use with a match box holder or stand, or to render the same desirable for pocket use, as hereinafter described.

A further object of my invention is to provide a match box of the character stated which will still, to a certain extent, retain its rigidity, and which will be capable of production at the same cost as t e ordinary safety match box now in use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction hereinafter described and more particularly defined in the appended claims. It bein understood that changes in the precise em odiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match box with the cover and match container separated, the container being constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view part in section and part in elevation of my match box, showing the same as actually applied to a match box holder, only a portion of the ash tray carrying the holder being shown.

My invention is essentially an improvement in a match box of the type generally used for safety matches comprising a container 6 slidable in its cover 7, and the improvements consist in transversely perforating the bottom of the container near each end as at 5 and cutting the sides thereof in line with the perforations as at 5, a small unbroken portion 11 being retained on the sides thereof intermediate the joining of the cut 5 and perforations 5. This small unbroken portion 11, as will be readily seen, re-- tains to some extent the rigidity of the container.

As shown by Fig. 1, the central portion of this container intermediate the cut and perforated ends may be reinforced by the strips 10 of cloth or heavy paper so that when one end of the container is being detached or torn OK to adapt this box for use with a match box holder 8 mounted as usual upon an ash tray 9, breaking or mutilation of the box is prevented.

While my invention is shown as in use with a match box holder, still it will be at once apparent that the same is valuable for use as a ocket match box, as either end may be bent backward to permit ready access to the matches, the perforations on the back of the container acting more or less, in this case, as a hinge connection between the ends and intermediate portion.

What is claimed 1. As a new article of manufacture, a container having perforations extending transversely across the bottom thereof and its sides cut in line with said perforations, said cutsterminating a spaced distance from the bottom to form an unbroken portion intermediatesaid perforations and cuts for retaining the rigidity of the container.

2. As an article of manufacture, a container having perforations extending transversely across the bottom and near the end thereof, the sides of the container being cut in line with the perforations, said cuts terminating a spaced distance from said bottom to form an unbroken portion intermediate said perforations and cuts for retaining the rigidity of the container, and a reinforcing strip adjacent the cuts and perforations to prevent the destruction of the container. when one end is bein detached therefrom substantially as descri ed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

E. HARRY MUELLER. 

